Train After Train and Double Diamonds at Marion, Ohio Union Station

This video shows around a dozen trains as they pass by the depot.
Marion Union Station was built in 1902
It’s surrounded by six mainline tracks. Four CSX and two Norfolk Southern tracks, which create 8 intersecting diamonds.
Marion is one of two spots in the country where double-diamond tracks can be seen.
CSX handles the dispatching for the diamonds.
CSX’s east-west line just north of the station, runs between Cleveland and Indianapolis.
Its north-south line, to the west of the site, connects Columbus and Toledo.
The Norfolk Southern tracks to the east of the station, go from Columbus to the NS yard in Bellevue.
Depending on how busy it is, 60 or more trains pass by in a day.
Passenger service stopped in 1971. The station now serves as a museum operated by the Marion Union Station Association.
When there’s a lull in rail action, you can check out the Erie Lackawanna caboose or AC tower, which overlooks the diamonds.
At one time the tower was the main switching facility for the Erie Railroad’s Marion Division.
The tower has been restored by the museum. They also moved the tower from across the tracks to where it now sits next to the train station. Inside you’ll find several interlocking and switch panels. Plus, functioning status lights and signals formerly used at surrounding stations and towers in Ohio.
It's a wonderful spot to railfan and the action just keeps on coming.

[@jellner7618]

This place seriously deserves a live train cam. It would be amazing.

[@notarotomwithhair5637]

Railstream does have one but it’s paid :(

[@TKR7387]

So? Its worth the pay@@notarotomwithhair5637

[@HenrikSweden1]

great video ! as an old Erie Lackawanna friend i love your work covering this area with that drone. i wish it had been possible in the 70s. Great scott ! i saw two ! at 4.38 and 5.26 , rock island covered hoppers in one of the trains. that is more than forty years after the rock went down. thanks a lot !

[@ericzerkle5214]

Pre 1976 it was crazy busy!

[@BuckeyeNationRailroader]

I am happy you had a great time at this severely underrated location

[@nkyrailfan]

I was thoroughly impressed with it. I'm hoping to make it up again this summer.

[@scottford8736]

I need to get up there and just soak it in

[@BoxcarJerry]

Nice job on the video , this place is on my list to visit . Drone shots were great .

[@nkyrailfan]

Thank you Jerry, I do appreciate it. Marion is definitely worth a visit. Plenty to check out and nonstop action. Have a great day.

[@sugarcubeaudio152]

Thanks for sharing O was there in 92_ with conrail, he and Csx

[@bscar]

This is about 10 minutes from my house. The traffic is horrible sometimes with all the stopped trains around town, I'd hate to see what it'd be like if our station was as big as the one in Bellevue.

[@nkyrailfan]

I can only imagine how frustrating that must be.

[@bscar]

@@nkyrailfan it is, but like with everything else, one learns to adapt. There's a few overpasses to help get around, even if they are kinda out of the way to get to sometimes. There was a time when our city would fine the RR company for having a train stopped for more than half an hour for non-emergencies, but they did away with that a few years ago and it just seemed to get worse.

[@nkyrailfan]

@bscar that's a shame because it happens up and down the rail lines all over. It wasn't such an issue when you 5,000-7,000 foot trains but now that they're double that, the RRs have nowhere to put them that isn't blocking something.

[@rustybales6826]

Fortunately I live 3 miles from this station

[@doublediamondrailroad5949]

Went there Twice this September 2021!

[@nkyrailfan]

It really is such a great spot, with lots of action!

[@timdaugherty5921]

I remember the old signals here. I was sad to see them go

[@lnrailroad3215]

Awesome catches, Especially the coal train. They are my absolute favorite! Sure hope you can capture more coal trains in future videos!!!

[@nkyrailfan]

Thank you. I'll try to give you a heads up when I have a video with some coal trains. Although, I have been seeing fewer and fewer of them recently.

[@lnrailroad3215]

@@nkyrailfan yes, I know. That's why I love them, being so rare these days. I grew up in coal country, it's kinda in my blood! lol

[@ohiorailfan124]

A little bit a facts about Marion for you. The north south line is the CSX Columbus sub, the east west is CSX Mount Victory Sub and the NS line is the NS Sandusky sub. - OhioRailfann

[@nkyrailfan]

Thanks for the info! I do appreciate it.

[@gingermegs138]

So many trains it makes it look like model train layout.

[@nkyrailfan]

It was definitely a great spot and worth the trip for sure.

[@thebusterdog921]

Especially when you show the same train multiple times.

[@b747guy9]

I sure hope the receivers on the trains are of better quality than what it sounds like on this video

[@nkyrailfan]

I have no doubt their equipment is 10 or 100 times better than mine. I need to pick up a better scanner and figure out a way to have it higher off the ground.

[@b747guy9]

@@nkyrailfan I apologize to you. I wasn't trying to make that critique personal but I guess it sounded like that. Again, I apologize.

[@nkyrailfan]

@@b747guy9 no worries at all. And no offense was taken. If you've listened to some of my other videos, my scanner audio is always hit or miss.

[@notarotomwithhair5637]

Hehe I was here that day

[@matthewburris6177]

East and Westbound trackage was former Erie Lackawanna and New York Central the track close to AC Tower we're owned by the former Pennsylvania Railroad the tracks on the west side of the depot was the Chesapeake in Ohio

[@nkyrailfan]

Thanks for the info Matthew. I appreciate it

[@angry-white-men]

Will there be this many trains on any day of the week we decide to go?

[@nkyrailfan]

It really does depend from day-to-day, but it is a busy spot. I would think you would see a lot of action. If you head there, I hope you have a great time and see plenty of trains.

[@Dr_Won_Hung_Lo]

I can tell you right now as someone who lives on that side of town that you'll see PLENTY of trains if you visit Marion! There is a train every 15 to 20 minutes at least

[@jacksonslaterelevatorraila6444]

what model drone u use what was it's cost and how do u get audio from it

[@nkyrailfan]

I use a DJI Mavic Pro. You can get them on eBay for between $500-800. Unfortunately, the drone can't record audio. I just use the audio from one of my ground cameras.

[@Ih8kone]

Where is the other U.S Double Diamond

[@nkyrailfan]

If you search "Blue Island Double Diamond" you'll find it. I don't see why it's called a double diamond because it's just four diamonds, not the eight that are featured here in Marion.

[@mullennixjoshua8138]

I was there at that time. Do you know what that RSSX GP7 is heading to or future is?

[@nkyrailfan]

Sadly, I do not. Hopefully, it's not on its way to the scrapyard. I found a post of it working as a switcher last year, but everything else I saw, it was just being moved from spot to spot.

[@captainmack2754]

Where is this?

[@fmltrailroad5461]

Do you know the radio frequency for the lines?

[@nkyrailfan]

Here's what I found, I hope it helps. CSX Indy Sub: 160.800 Road/Dispatcher CSX Columbus Sub: 160.230 Road, 160.320 Dispatcher NS Sandusky District: 161.190 Road/Dispatcher www.railfanguides.us/oh/marion/

[@fmltrailroad5461]

ok, I'm going there this weekend thanks!

[@nkyrailfan]

That's great! I hope you have a great time, and see plenty of trains.

[@timdaugherty5921]

Why no NS trains??? Its seems to be all CSX

[@nkyrailfan]

Not sure, but there definitely were significantly more CSX trains coming through. My guess is that two CSX subdivisions cross here, compared to the single NS line. A very fun place to watch some trains.

[@notarotomwithhair5637]

There were so many southbound csx, usually I see none on my more recent trips

[@andrewcrumb8027]

The trees have grown big during the past few years.

[@ianblox69]

Only in ohio 💀